Mind Sports South Africa's (MSSA) blog on competitive gaming in South Africa from proto-computer gaming all the way through to the most modern. For more about MSSA go to: https://www.facebook.com/mindsportssa/

Friday, 12 June 2015

THE MSSA’S VISION FOR eSPORTS:

Protea Colours badge

From the day that the MSSA was
founded (1984), the MSSA has had to fight to have the games that the
MSSA promotes to be recognised to be accredited as equals to any of
the other sports that exist in South Africa.

The breakthrough happened in 1991
when the MSSA was allowed to award Protea Colours to its wargames
team. In 1997, the MSSA awarded Protea Colours to its Morabaraba
team, and in 2001 the MSSA was allowed to award Protea Colours to the
players who represented South Africa for Checkers.

However, it was not until 2005
that the MSSA was granted permission by the Protea Colours Board for
Computer Gaming.

It should be noted that the
Protea Colours awarded are the same as awarded to cricket, rugby,
swimming, etc.

Even though the mere act of
awarding colours is laudable in itself, in that players who receive
such colours are enable to apply for, and receive, bursaries at
universities, the MSSA’s vision does not end there.

To ensure that eSports are
regarded as a fully accredited sport, the MSSA runs inter-school
leagues, school championships, regional championships, provincial
championships and national championships.

The MSSA is a member of the
International
eSports Federation (IeSF). In 2010, the MSSA help
found the IeDF (the international federation for gamers with
disabilities) which is now known as the IeSF. Through such affiliation the groundwork has been done
to have eSports established and accredited as an international sport
by the General Assembly of International Sport Federations (GAISF) which is now known as SportsAccord.
When the GAISF accepts eSports as an international Sport, a whole new
era will be ushered in as the games will be allowed to participate in
the International Mind Sports Association’s Games, and be included
in the All Africa Games, the Commonwealth Games, and possibly even in
the Olympic Games.